BACKGROUND Exposure to chemicals during fetal development can increase the risk of adverse health effects, and while biomonitoring studies suggest pregnant women are exposed to chemicals, little is known about the extent of multiple chemicals exposures among pregnant women in the United States. OBJECTIVE We analyzed biomonitoring data from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Surve...

All aerial plant surfaces are inhabited by diverse assemblages of microorganisms, including bacteria, fi lamentous fungi, yeasts, and algae. These organisms have profound effects on plant health and thus impact on the ecosystem (Lindow and Brandl, 2003). The yeasts form a major component of the population on leaves (Inácio et al., 2002). Leaf surfaces are colonized by members of several genera ...

For years some ecologists have been convinced that pesticides are contributing to a decline in amphibian species around the globe. From an apparent epidemic of deformed frogs in Minnesota to the near disappearance of yellow-legged frogs from California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains, pesticides have been considered prime suspects. This suspicion is no doubt rooted in the belief by the ecological com...

Insect pests represent a significant limitation for production of many crops. Traditional reliance on pesticides brings significant economic costs and environmental liabilities of off-target drift, chemical residues and resistance. IPM has long been proposed as an alternative. The adoption of IPM in the Australian cotton industry provides a valuable overview of the key components of IPM and the...

Plant diseases need to be controlled to maintain the quality and abundance of food, feed, and fiber produced by growers around the world. Different approaches may be used to prevent, mitigate or control plant diseases. Beyond good agronomic and horticultural practices, growers often rely heavily on chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Such inputs to agriculture have contributed significantly to...